However they said they were ‘incredibly proud’ of Damned, despite having no plans to make any more.

Brand wrote the show with fellow comics Will Smith and Morwenna Banks, whose partner David Baddiel broke the news on Twitter. He said: ‘Sadly just heard @Channel4 have decided not to commission another series of the brilliant Damned. This is despite the last series getting across-the-board five star reviews. Slightly baffled.’

His post prompted scores of messages of support.

What Larks!, the production company founded by Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig which makes the show, said they were now on the lookout for a new home.

They said: ‘The incredible response to @Baddiel's tweet is testimony to the extraordinary following #Damned @c4 had. Don't worry, we are on the search for money & partners. We will bring Damned back.

And Smith added: ‘I like to think we set things nicely up for a third series - Denise under investigation and Al now in charge having spent all of series 2 trying to leave.’

The second series of Damned, which was widely acclaimed by critics, ended in March. The series started with 1.3million viewers but fell to half that by the end of six episodes, averaging 900,000 over the run. The first series in the autumn of 2016 averaged 1.2 million.

A Channel 4 spokesperson told British Comedy Guide: "Across two series of Damned, Jo Brand, Morwenna Banks and the What Larks! team created a warm, poignant, and pointed comedy of which we're incredibly proud. However, with a number of other brand new comedy series already commissioned for 2019, there are currently no plans for a third series.'

It also starred Himesh Patel, Georgie Glen and Nick Hancock as well as Banks herself.

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